Screenwriter's Series: Drew Goddard
The Screenwriters Series will examine the filmography of a screenwriter with the hope of finding out what helped them break into the industry or continue to find success. "Story By" credits will not be used: only films with official WGA Screenplay credit per IMDb will be used. This includes screenplays with multiple writers that may or may not have collaborated.
THIS MONTH'S SCREENWRITER: Drew Goddard
MOVIE: World War Z (2013)
Starring:
Brad Pitt as Gerry Lane
Mireille Enos as Karin Lane
James Badge Dale as Captain Speke
David Morse as Ex-CIA Agent
Daniella Kertesz as Segen
Elyes Gabel as Andrew Fassbach
Michiel Huisman as Ellis
Matthew Fox as Parajumper
Director: Marc Forster
Budget: $190 Million
Box Office:
Opened: $66.4M
Final: $202.35M
Plot:
After witnessing his hometown of Philadelphia be overrun by zombies, Gerry Lane ends up on a globe trotting mission to help the government discover the truth behind the terrifying creatures, protect his family, and save humanity.
The Script:
This was a fun one. I don't have the draft that Lindelof and Goddard eventually worked on. What I did have was the original script by J. Michael Straczynski that wound up on the 2007 Black List as well what I can assume is the draft that Matthew Michael Carnahan wrote (it is undated and the writer isn't named, but given the behind the scenes it is most likely his draft). I could also write at length about the production troubles this movie had (seriously look it up, it's insane the movie ever came out) but I will focus on the scripts I read.
Straczynski's draft adhered closer to what Brooks' novel was. Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) is hired to put together an account of what happened during the outbreak so that we can prevent it for the future. He begins a globe trotting mission, conducting interviews with key individuals as we flash back to the events they are describing until Lane learns the truth. The tone is much more political thriller than the action/horror film it ultimately became.
Carnahan's script deviates heavily from Straczynski's script, ultimately keeping Lane as the main character and keeping his family, but nothing else from the original remains. Unfortunately, all the political intrigue is gone, as is Gerry feeling like he's actually important to the plot. He's a pretty static character who inserts himself into the plot for no reason to follow flimsy evidence and be attacked by zombies. This draft is basically what we got in the finished film minus some new opening scenes and a completely new third act.
Which brings us to Goddard's involvement. The third act needed help (boy did it!) and together with fellow Lost alum Damon Lindelof they crafted an entirely new ending. Also gone is a brutally violent battle sequence in Red Square where Gerry loses his family man status and the humanity he had accrued prior.
I greatly preferred Straczynski's script and it's easy to find online if you'd like to read it. But I'm not here to figure out why Paramount and Marc Forster decided to move on from this excellent script. Goddard and Lindelof came in at the last minute and saved the film by focusing on the very thing Carnahan forgot: character. Not only character, but making sure that the story ultimately made sense. Carnahan's script ended on a cliffhanger of Gerry leading an army he formed after becoming a prisoner in Russia (don't ask) to fight zombies on his way home to his wife Karin, who was having an affair with Parajumper (He's never given a name outside of that in the script and it's the Matthew Fox character in the finished film). I've spoken about rewrites before with She's the Man, but this is a prime example of understanding not just what the characters need but the story as well. This is a crucial and project saving skill.
My Review:
Max Brooks' novel is a classic and given its style, I always thought it would make a killer anthology TV series. When I first saw the movie back in 2013, I kinda enjoyed it despite not resembling the book in the slightest. Knowing about Straczynski's script definitely lowered my enjoyment upon rewatch but it's still kind of a fun movie despite its faults. Brad Pitt is good in an underwritten role and as said earlier, it's better than it ultimately should be.
Critical reception:
66% on Rotten Tomatoes
Up Next: The Martian (2015)